Torenia plant named ‘Sunrekodebu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Torenia  plant named ‘Sunrekodebu’, characterized by its compact and mounding to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; dark violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Torenia sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNREKODEBU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia plant, botanically known as Torenia sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunrekodebu’.

The new Torenia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compact and freely branching Torenia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Torenia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in July, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Torenia sp, identified as code name TP-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Torenia sp. identified as code name TC-V, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Torenia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in March, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since April, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Torenia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Torenia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunrekodebu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunrekodebu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding to trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Dark violet-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Torenia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Torenia are more compact than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Torenia are more upright than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Torenia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have violet blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Torenia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Torenia are more compact than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Torenia are not as upright as plants of the         male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Torenia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have dark violet blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Torenia can be compared to plants of Torenia ‘Sunrenilabu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,843. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Torenia and ‘Sunrenilabu’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Torenia were taller and narrower than         plants of ‘Sunrenilabu’.     -   2. Plants of the new Torenia were more upright than plants of         ‘Sunrenilabu’.     -   3. Plants of the new Torenia had thicker stems and shorter         internodes than plants of ‘Sunrenilabu’.     -   4. Plants of the new Torenia flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Sunrenilabu’.     -   5. Plants of the new Torenia and ‘Sunrenilabu’ differed in         flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Torenia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Torenia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrekodebu’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrekodebu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical for commercial Torenia production. During the production of the Torenia plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Torenia sp. ‘Sunrekodebu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Torenia             sp, identified as code name TP-1, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Torenia             sp. identified as code name TC-V, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About three to             four weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact and mounded to trailing plant             habit; outwardly spreading; vigorous growth habit; freely             branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing             per plant, pinching enhances branching potential.         -   Plant height.—About 25.4 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 54.8 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 28.2 cm. Diameter: About             1.9 mm. Internode length: About 4 cm. Aspect: Upright to             decumbent. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144C tinted             with close to 176C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate to cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A; venation,             close to 145B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138B; venation, close to 145B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B tinted with close to             177A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils;             corolla bilabiate and calyx tubular; flowers face obliquely             upright; freely flowering habit with about 65 flowers             developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three             to four weeks after planting; long flowering period;             continuously flowering from early summer to late autumn in             Japan.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four days on             the plant.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 8.5 mm.             Shape: Ellipsoidal. Color: Close to 144C tinted with close             to 176A; towards the apex, close to N92C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.4 cm by 3.1 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 4 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 2.9 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Bilabiate with one upper or             banner petal and one lower petal with two lateral and one             lower lobes, petals fused. Upper petal: Length: About             1.4 cm. Width: About 2.3 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:             Mucronate to truncate. Margin: Entire; undulating. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Developing, upper surface: Darker than 86A; towards the             throat, close to 90D. Developing, lower surface: Close to             N88B; towards the margins, close to 86A. Fully developed,             upper surface: Darker than N88A; towards the throat, close             to 92B. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to 91B;             towards the margins, close to 86A. Lower petal: Length,             lateral lobes: About 1.9 cm. Width, lateral lobes: About             9.4 mm. Length, lower lobe: About 1.6 cm. Width, lower lobe:             About 1.8 cm. Shape, lateral and lower lobes: Elliptic.             Apex, lateral lobes: Truncate. Apex, lower lobe: Rounded.             Margin, lateral and lower lobes: Entire. Texture, lateral             and lower lobes, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, lateral lobes: Developing, upper surface: Darker than             86A. Developing, lower surface: Close to 86A. Fully             developed, upper surface: Darker than N88A. Fully developed,             lower surface: Darker than 86A. Color, lower lobes:             Developing, upper surface: Darker than 86A; close to the             throat, close to 90D. Developing, lower surface: Close to             92C; towards the margins, close to N88A. Fully developed,             upper surface: Darker than N88A; towards the throat, close             to 92A. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to 91C;             towards the margins, close to N88A. Throat color: Close to             92C; towards the base, close to 155A; fine lines, close to             83A. Tube color: Close to 90B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five, fused;             ellipsoidal; margins winged. Calyx length: About 2.1 cm.             Calyx diameter: About 8.6 mm. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144C. Color, mature, upper surface: Close             to 144B to 144C tinged with close to 187A to 187B. Color,             mature, lower surface: Close to 144B to 144C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four; two pairs of fused anthers. Filament length: About 7             mm to 15 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 3             mm by 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 86D and 84D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11B. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.3 cm.             Stigma shape: Elliptic. Stigma color: Close to 76B. Style             color: Close to N82C. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Torenia. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Torenia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Torenia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Torenia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘Sunrekodebu’ as illustrated and described. 